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Chapter 150: The Man Who Looking for the Dream
"That's right. It is in the sky. To be precise, it sits upon the Imperial Cumulus clouds, ten thousand meters above the ground!"
With a click, the door to one of the wooden houses opened. A middle-aged man, over two meters tall with a diamond-shaped face, walked out.
His gaze locked firmly onto the three people outside the door, his eyes carrying a complex mix of emotions.
To think there are still people... who believe Sky Island is real.
"Eh? Old man, have you been to Sky Island?"
Luffy looked at the middle-aged man, realizing he was the one who had answered him just now. unable to suppress the excitement in his heart, he asked again.
"I haven't."
"Is that so? Then, Old man, do you know how to get to Sky Island?"
"Yeah, I know. But I want to ask you a question first."
The middle-aged man's gaze swept over Robin, Ganyu, and Luffy in turn. After letting the silence brew for a few seconds, he asked:
"Young man, and you two young ladies. Do you... truly believe that Sky Island exists?"
His tone was exceptionally serious. He maintained eye contact with them as he spoke. If any of the three showed even a hint of wavering, he would turn and leave.
Because the people on this island did not believe in Sky Island or the City of Gold. His efforts over so many years had only been met with ridicule.
His name was Mont Blanc Cricket. He happened to be the descendant of that "King of Liars," Mont Blanc Noland.
Since childhood, he had resented the ancestor who brought infamy to his family, and he was ashamed of his lineage.
Because of this, he left his hometown and took to the sea, becoming a pirate.
But by a twist of fate, during an adventure ten years ago, his ship had arrived at this island.
After arriving here, he suddenly realized his mission—to clear Noland's name.
He stayed for ten years. During this time, day after day, he dived into the deep waters near Jaya, attempting to salvage evidence that could prove the existence of the City of Gold.
Throughout this time, he suffered ridicule from everyone. People even drove him out to this desolate area.
But he never gave up. Perhaps it was precisely this relentless attitude that attracted a group of like-minded people to help him salvage. Gradually, they had actually become a pirate force on the island second only to the Bellamy Pirates.
Today, his subordinates were out on the salvage ship working. He was resting at home due to recent overexertion, but he unexpectedly overheard a conversation outside about "Sky Island."
Hearing these people express a longing for Sky Island, Cricket finally couldn't resist pushing open the door.
He wanted to know if these people truly believed that Sky Island and the City of Gold were real!
"I believe!"
Greeting Cricket was a smile brighter than the sun.
"Wh... Why would you believe... Believing in such a legend, you'll be treated as a fool by others..."
Cricket's body trembled. He looked at the straw-hatted boy before him with disbelief.
He felt as if he were seeing his younger self from ten years ago.
"I don't care how others see it! Because I want to go to Sky Island, so Sky Island must exist!"
Luffy raised both hands high, looking at the sky above. His vision seemed to pierce through the clouds, seeing that dreamlike island.
Only when the sunlight stung his eyes did Luffy lower his head and ask anxiously:
"Ne, Old man, can you tell us how to get to Sky Island now?"
Cricket didn't speak immediately. His expression was dazed, seemingly not yet recovered from the shock.
It wasn't until an impatient Luffy got close and waved a hand in front of his face that his eyes gradually regained focus.
This time, his gaze fell on Ganyu and Robin again.
"What about you two? Do you also believe Sky Island is real?"
"Originally, I didn't. But..."
Robin gave a faint smile, sweeping her eyes over the messy abundance of ancient items surrounding them. "If I am not mistaken, these should be things you salvaged from the sea. I can see the age in their appearance; they are definitely not products of the last few centuries."
"In other words... they are highly likely to have come from the City of Gold, or perhaps, Sky Island?"
"Exactly!!!"
Cricket was ecstatic, his expression almost losing control.
He could see it. This woman knew he was looking for the City of Gold, and she knew the purpose of his salvage work.
They had come specifically to find him.
For the first time in so many years, he had met people who understood him. How could he not be overjoyed?
"However." Robin sighed, speaking with a touch of pity, "At best, these can be called preserved antiques. In the eyes of the world, they are far from being proof of the City of Gold."
Yes. That was why he was still salvaging in the sea even now.
Cricket looked at the fruits of his labor from over the years surrounding him and let out an imperceptible sigh.
Just as his expression was gradually dimming, the other blue-haired maiden, whom he had not ignored from start to finish, suddenly spoke.
"So, we need to find an item that carries significant weight."
Robin shook her head gently. "Such an item is not easy to find. What object could have enough weight to prove the existence of a land?"
"What are you guys talking about?" Luffy looked confused. He couldn't understand anymore.
He didn't understand, but beside him, Cricket's eyes were practically burning with fire.
"The Golden Bell! The greatest treasure in the rumors of the City of Gold! As long as we find it and ring it, everyone on Jaya will be able to hear its chime!"
Speaking of this, his tone dropped low again.
"But I've been salvaging in the sea for ten years and haven't found it."
"I even feel like it's not in the sea at all. Like the City of Gold, it vanished into thin air."
So he's looking for something!
Luffy suddenly understood. Seeing that Cricket seemed desperate to find that item, he tried to help think.
But aside from the sea, he couldn't think of anywhere else.
At that moment, a small hand patted his head, signaling him to look up.
Luffy looked at Ganyu in confusion, following the direction of her finger toward the sky. What entered his vision was that dense layer of clouds he had just seen.
Clouds?
Clouds!
"It's in the sky! Old man, the thing you're looking for must be like Sky Island—it's in the sky!"
Luffy shouted excitedly, as if he had discovered a new continent.
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